Erica Baum
dal 5/9/2003 al 27/9/2003
Segnalato da
5/9/2003
Erica Baum
D Amelio Terras, New York
The second solo exhibition of New York artist Erica Baum with the gallery. 'Play' is a two-part project. A group of black and white photographs of the backs of paper doll figures will be exhibited at D'Amelio Terras while a group of color digital c-prints of stage directions from scripts (the information provided to the actors but not spoken during a performance) will be concurrently on view at the Dance Theater Workshop gallery, located at 219 W. 19th Street.
D'Amelio Terras is pleased to present 'Play', the second solo exhibition of
New York artist Erica Baum with the gallery. 'Play' is a two-part project.
A group of black and white photographs of the backs of paper doll figures
will be exhibited at D'Amelio Terras while a group of color digital c-prints
of stage directions from scripts (the information provided to the actors but
not spoken during a performance) will be concurrently on view at the Dance
Theater Workshop gallery, located at 219 W. 19th Street.
Baum, who graduated from Yale in 1994, has long been interested in words as
visual and imaginary objects. In previous bodies of work, she has used
found texts to create photographic works of poetry and fiction. She has
explored classification systems such as card catalogues, indices in books,
and archival art reference notes. 'Play' moves away from text-based art,
while still directing her lens towards her favorite subject, the pages of
books and the rich magnified texture of paper, which represent for her the
dual nature of language, symbolic and physical at once.
In 'Play' Baum explores the narrative potential of second-hand paper doll
figures, treated as blank players in an imaginary performance. The 30x40
inch black and white photographs depict the reverse side of cardboard
cut-out paper doll figures, some undetached and others already perforated.
Stripped of their clothing and facial expression, the viewer is left only
with outlines of each figure to construct a narrative. The ominous tones of
these silver gelatin prints lend each work a patina of unrest and suspicion,
suggesting an undercurrent of dark emotion. The exhibition itself becomes a
theater with figures on the verge of enacting multiple possible
performances. Baum remarks: 'Viewers become members of an audience, and the
space between the realized and unrealized dramatic unfoldings becomes both a
play and a conceptual intermission.'
With this series of ambitious yet modestly-produced work, Baum demonstrates
that her sense of linguistic play is subtler than most text-based art.
Without being didactic, Baum personifies the ideal reader/viewer-as-author
described by Roland Barthes as she invites us to actively take part in
creating meaning out of distilled information. The removal of unnecessary
props, in stark contrast to so much staged photography produced in recent
years, shows that photography can still be the form of expression of
conceptual practice.
Concurrent solo exhibition at the Dance Theater Workshop gallery, 219 W.
19th St , from September 2 Â October 12, 2003. Hours: 10am to 9pm, closed
Sundays. Next exhibition: Joanne Greenbaum October 4 Â November 1, 2003
D'Amelio Terras represents Polly Apfelbaum, Erica Baum, Delia Brown, Tony
Feher, Joanne Greenbaum, Glenn Ligon, John Morris, Rei Naito, Rika Noguchi,
Damián Ortega, Cornelia Parker, Miguel Rio Branco, Karin Sander and
Yoshihiro Suda.
Opening reception: Saturday, September 6, 6 to 8pm
D'Amelio Terras
525 W. 22nd St.
New York, NY 10011
Tel: (212) 352-9460
Fax: (212) 352-9464